Jesus as Lord over your desires

Did your flesh prick just then?  "Hey!  They are MY desires!  I can want whatever I want!"

Are you in the habit of yielding to Jesus on everything?  If not, then yes, the title of this blog will prick your flesh.

Am I serious?  You betcha!

When you think about it, it's our desires that either lead us into good or bad choices.  Problem is, the bad ones can feel good in the moment.

So what's a girl to do?

Run it by Jesus!  Jesus, is this desire of and from You?  Or is it only me? Or worse, the enemy?

Desires, wishes, and feelings will come against us from our own deceitful hearts!  Yes, even those of us whose hearts are indwelt by the Holy Spirit can be led astray by our desires.

Now to be sure, God can also lead us through our desires.  Most Christians have Psalm 37:4 memorized.  

But we're complicated creatures.  We've been programmed by so many sources throughout our lives, not all of which were in our best interest.

How to we truly discern between good and bad desires when the bad ones can feel so right?

First Source is always the Scriptures.  They pretty much cut to the chase every time.  But are you dedicated to really knowing Scripture?  If not, then your desires may have the upper hand in your life.  Why? Because you have nothing to check them against, to discern if they are truly righteous or not.

Next, once we know Scripture, are we willing to obey it fully?  

The ideal state is to be so totally yielded to Jesus, so one with Him, that we immediately recognize any desire for what it is and where it came from.  Then, by His grace and power, we simply surrender it to Him - good and bad alike!  He can handle them all!

Is this going too far?  Have I gone off the deep end? 

Not at all, friends.

Perhaps you are (wrongly) thinking that if you are not "allowed" to have any desire you want that it would be confining, that you would not be free.

Exact opposite.

There is nothing more freeing than being connected to Christ, than flowing in His love, power, and grace.

There is nothing more a snare and trap than when we give in to convoluted desires.  Oh, as I said, giving in to them may feel good in the moment.  But, like every lie and deception, there will be a price to pay.

The very thing that you thought would set you free - that inappropriate desire that you caved in to - will ensnare and bind you in the end.  Not freedom at all!

So when we let Jesus be who He is - Lord - over our desires, we will be free.  Truly free.

Free from guilt, shame, condemnation, and all those other nasty emotions that always follow after giving in to fleshly desires.

That's the problem with the world today - there is no more shame or guilt of sin!  People stuff these very real feelings down because "everyone else" says it is ok to do what they're doing.  Their consciences have been seared.  

If only they would allow God's convicting work in them to bring them to repentance instead!  

But then how can the world possibly know right from wrong when they see Christians acting the very same way as they are!

There is a price to follow Jesus whole-heartedly.  When we have a good desire, but are tempted to fulfill it apart from the Lord and His will, that's when good becomes bad.

Remember, if the devil can't get you to do out-and-out evil, he has no problem using "good" to get you off course.  

But God wants what is best for you!  Not just good, but best!

Delight yourself in Jesus, not in your own desires, and He will bring peace to your soul - which is your truest desire all along.

Dear Lord.  You have blessed us with all sorts of desires that only You can fulfill and provide for.  You do want to give us the desires of our hearts, but first, we need to check our hearts to make sure the desires are from You!  Help us to know and trust Your timing in them.  Help us discern those that are of You and those that are not.  For deligthing in You fulfills the desires of our hearts.  Every. Time.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.